Washington (CNN) - Former President George H.W. Bush, a leader of one of the nation's most prominent Republican families, was honored Tuesday for his years of public service and leadership for civil rights - by a foundation named for his Texan predecessor and also one of the nation's most noted Democratic presidents.

Bush was given the LBJ Liberty and Justice for All Award by the LBJ Foundation.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday evening he was taken aback when his daughter Mary and her wife took to social media to rail against his other daughter Liz's stance on same-sex marriage.

"We were surprised when there was an attack launched against Liz on Facebook and wished it hadn't happened," Cheney told the audience at a National Press Club event.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Charlie Crist's new campaign for governor of Florida, this time as a Democrat, is already at a fork in the road.

After touting his hiring of New York politico Bill Hyers, Crist - who introduced the 38-year-old operative at a Miami Beach fundraiser last month as "my campaign manager" – e-mailed reporters Tuesday to announce that Hyers had left the campaign.

Washington (CNN) - House Republican leaders would offer a short-term spending bill to remove any threat of a government shutdown in January if congressional budget negotiators fail to reach a deal before lawmakers recess for the holidays, multiple sources said.

Several House GOP members told leaders at a weekly closed-door meeting on Tuesday they are worried about going home at end of next week with a January 15 deadline looming for Congress to approve another government spending bill.

CNN's GUT CHECK | for December 3, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

SOURCES: TRAIN ENGINEER SAID HE WAS 'IN A DAZE' BEFORE CRASH Results from alcohol breath tests for the train engineer of the New York commuter train that derailed Sunday morning were negative, and both the brake and signal systems in the deadly Metro-North accident appeared to be working, National Transportation Safety Board representatives said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, while two law enforcement sources told CNN that engineer William Rockefeller reported being in a "daze" before the crash.
– CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz. Mike Ahlers and Ray SanchezFULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The Obama administration is prepared to allow Iran to engage in a "limited enrichment program" if Tehran holds up its end of an international agreement to curtail its nuclear capabilities under stringent global oversight, the White House confirmed Tuesday.

"We are prepared to negotiate a strictly limited enrichment program," Obama administration national security spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement.

Washington (CNN) - Washington has started an unpopular tradition: wreaking havoc with the holidays. And it's possible it could happen again this year.

With less than a month before the New Year, doctors who treat Medicare patients don't yet know how much the government will reimburse them, parents aren't sure if their local Head Start program will turn away students, civilians in the military don't know how many days they could be furloughed, and families can't yet estimate the price of milk.

(CNN) – Even before the federal HealthCare.gov website got an overhaul, President Barack Obama acknowledged the need to "remarket and rebrand" his signature health legislation.

On Tuesday, the effort appeared to kick off with remarks touting the law's benefits, including a ban on denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and allowing adult children to remain on their parents' plans.